Diode taping machine



Dec. 1, 195% F. WOHLMAN 2,915,212

1 DIODE TAPING MACHINE Fil d July s, 1956 s" Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1959F. WOHLMAN 2,915,212

v DIODE TAPING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1956 A s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1,1959 F. WOHLMAN DIODE TAPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 3, 1956Awa /w.

A1 50 W044 M4M Un ed at Pa e DIODE TAPING MACHINE Fred Wohlman,Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City,Calif., a corporation L of Delaware Application July 3, 1956, Serial No.595,783 3 Claims. (Cl. 216-9) This invention relates to means forassembling components automatically, and particularly to a device forassembling and packaging very small diodes in such a way that they maybe later handled by automatic production machinery.

" Current techniques in the fabrication of the computer equipmentutilizing large numbers of very small diodes require that the diodes bedelivered to the equipment in such away that they may be readily handledby automatic machinery.

Diodes of this type consist of a sealed cylindrical glass envelopehaving the active rectifying material entirely enclosed therein andhaving a connecting lead extending from each end of the envelope. Theproblem of handling these diodes during assembly presents difficultiesbecause of the frangible nature of the envelope and the susceptibilityto breaking the seals around the connecting leads if the units arestrained in handling. Since each diode is of the order of 7 in diameterand A" in length, it will be readily understood that it is difficult tograsp the envelope firmly without damage, and to maintain the connectingleads, one of which normally extends outwardly for about 1" coaxiallyfrom each end of the cylindrical diode, in proper alignment parallel tothe adjacent diodes.

The instant invention has a supply receptacle in which a large number ofthe diodes may be stored with their axes substantially parallellypositioned for delivery one at a time to a loading station. Delivery isaccomplished through a zig-zag gravity-feed chute extending between thesupply receptacle and the loading station. At the loading station, eachdiode is counted, and in turn is brought into contact with a carriermedium, which may be a flexible tape presenting a tacky,pressure-sensitive surface coating to the diodes. As the tape is pulledby motor means along a pre-set course, a resiliently faced pressureroller is arranged to press each of the diodes securely onto the carriertape. The alignment of the diodes is maintained between delivery to thetape at the loading station and engagement with the pressure roller bymeans of a series of spaced slots defined by a pair of toothed wheelsdisposed on either side of a backing roller over which the tape rides,and which is arranged to resist the pressure of the resiliently surfacedidler wheel. After the diodes have been impressed on the tacky tapesurface, the assembly is wound around a carrier reel. When apredetermined number of diodes have been processed, electronic countermeans actuate, through suitable delay means, a cut-off switch whichstops the operation, so that the full reel may be removed and a freshone supplied. One revolution of bare tape is wound around the outside ofthe loaded reel to ensure the proper retention of the diodes inposition.

In subsequent production steps, the outer tape may be removed as thecarrier strip is fed into the processing machinery.

It will be seen that this device permits delivery of a predeterminednumber of diodes in spaced array with tion steps may follow withoutmanual handling of these ice their axes parallel to'each other so thatdesired producdelicate devices. v a v The invention has been illustratedin the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary schematic side view showing the relation of theessential parts.

The device indicated generally as 1 has 'a framework consistingessentially of a pair of parallel side plates 2 and 4 connected bysuitable cross braces 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. A zig-zag delivery chute 12is arranged to receive diodes one at a time from a conventional hopper14 shown fragmentarily inthe figure; The hopper 14 delivers diodes tothe chute 12 by gravity, The chute controls the feed rate and maintainsa proper parallel relation between the diodes. After being deliveredthrough the z'ig-gag passage thereof, the diodes are presented at adeliverystation 15 immediately adjacent the periphery of a slotted wheel16.

These diodes are of conventional design, with material having thedesired electrical characteristics enclosed in a thin-walled, sealedcylindrical glass capsule. A connecting wire, or terminal lead, issealed through each end of the capsule to provide the electrical contactto the inner material.

The carrier medium is carried on an idler wheel 17. The carrier mediummay be a strip 18 of flexible tape A" wide having a pressure sensitiveadhesive applied to the side presented to the diodes. The tape is passedover the central portion of the slotted wheel 16 with its tacky surface19 disposed awayfrom the wheel center As each diode arrives at thedelivery station 15, it seats by gravity on the tacky surface, and iscarried by rotation of the wheel into engagement with the pressure roll20, the circumference of which has a resilient engaging layer 21. Thepressure roll 20 is mounted on a fork 22 pivotally supported at 24relative to the side plates 2 and 4 of the frame. extending outwardlyfrom the-supporting fork in both directions and engaged terminally bysprings 26. The springs 26 may be adjusted to apply a desired amount ofpressure to the diodes in order to ensure proper engagement with thesupporting tape. The slotted wheel 16 has suflicient clearance betweenthe adjacent slotted portions to permit the frangible glass body of eachof the diodes to nest readily therein with just sufiicient clearance toallow for the tacky backing.

This ensures that the diodes will remain in proper I alignment and becarried on the belt without danger of being cracked by the forceexertedby the resiliently surfaced roll in pressing them against thebacking tape.

The tape then passes over an idler wheel 27 for delivery to a collectingreel 29. When a sufiicient length of tape has been wound upon the reel29, a counter 3t) and an automatic switch 31 associated therewithcooperate to turn off the motor 32, driving the collecting reel 29. Thismotor operates under the control of a motor control box 33 to drive thereel 29 through a reduction gear box 34 at the proper speed. When thereel is full, the motor automatically stops, the tape is cut, and thereel may be removed for later use and replaced by a fresh empty reel.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electricalcomponents on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about apackaging reel, said apparatus cornprising, in combination: a framestructure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said framestructure; I

Patented Dec. 1, 1959 The pressure roll has an axle 25 ture and having adischarge end positioned adjacent said" periphery of said wheel; a tapesupply reel rotatably carried bysaid frame structure; means, forsupporting said packaging reel. in association with said framestructure; means for rotatably driving said packaging reel, a web ofsaid pressure sensitive adhesive. tape material being adapted fordisposition about and between said edge portions of: said wheel and tosaid. packaging reel, movement of said web and driving of said wheelbeing through tensile stress in said tape material; a zigzag deliverychute in said delivery mechanism whereby to maintain continuousgravitational travel of said components for disposition of leads thereofin-said serrations in said wheel, a body of each component beingdisposed laterally between said edge portions of said wheel and on saidadhesive .ofsaid tape material; a pressure roller carried by said framestructure and having a resilient peripheral portion adapted fordisposition between said edge portions and in engagement with saidcomponent bodies; and means for biasing said resilient portion of saidroller into said engagement with said component bodies, whereby to presssaid bodies into secure contact with said adhesive, said components thussecured to said tape being thereafter wound on said packaging reel.

2. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electricalcomponents on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about apackaging reel, said apparatus comprising, in combintion: a framestructure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said framestructure; laterally spaced radially extending serrated edge portions ona periphery of said loading wheel; a component storage and deliverymechanism carried by said frame structure and having a discharge endpositioned adjacent said periphery of said wheel; a tape supply reelfreely rotatably carried by said frame structure; journal means forsupporting said packagingreel in association with said frame structure;electric motor and gear reduction means for rotatably drivingsaidpackaging reel, a web of said pressure sensitive adhesive tapematerial being adapted for disposition about and between said edgeportions of said wheel and to said packaging reel, movement of said weband driving of said wheel being only through tensile stress in said tapematerial; a zigzag delivery chute in said delivery mechanism whereby tomaintain continuous gravitational travel of said components fordisposition of leads thereof in said serrations in said wheel, a body ofeach component being disposed laterally between said edge portions ofsaid wheel and on said adhesive of said tape material; a pressure rollercarried by said frame structure and having a resilient peripheralportion adapted for disposition between said edge portions and inengagement with said component bodies; and tension spring means forbiasing said resilient portion of said roller into said engagement withsaid component bodies, whereby to press said bodies into secure contactwith said adhesive, said components thus secured to said tape beingthereafter wound on said packaging reel.

3. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electricalcomponents on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about apackaging reel, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a framestructure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said framestructure; laterally spaced radially extending serrated edge portions ona periphery of said loading wheels; a component storage and deliverymechanism carried by said frame structure and having a discharge endpositioned adjacent said periphery of said wheel; a tape supply reelfreely rotatably carried by said frame structure; journal means forsupporting said packaging reel in operative association with said framestructure; electric motor and gear reduction means for rotatably drivingsaid packaging reel, a web of said pressure sensitive adhesive tapematerial being adapted for disposition about and between said edgeportions of said wheel and to said packaging reel, movement of said weband driving of said wheel being only through tensile stress in said tapematerial; a zigzag delivery chute in said delivery mechanism whereby tomaintain continuous gravitational travel of said components fordisposition of leads thereof in said serra-v tions in said wheel, a bodyof each component being disposed laterally between said edge portions ofsaid wheel and on said adhesive of said tape material; a pressure.roller mounted on a laterally movable axis, carried by said framestructure and having a resilient peripheral portion adapted fordisposition between said edge portions and in engagement with saidcomponent bodies; tension spring means for biasing said resilientportion of said roller into said engagement with said component bodies,whereby to press said bodies into secure contact with said adhesive,said components thus secured to said. tape being thereafter wound onsaid packaging reel; and component counter means positioned adjacentsaid component storage and delivery mechanism and responsive to passageof components to said wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,916,966 Cunningham July 4, 1933 2,372,072 Flaws Mar. 20, 19452,771,206 Daniels, et al Nov. 20, 1956

